CRICH PARISH

George Wragg (1897–1973)

Private

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)

70545

11th Battalion 'C' Coy, 12th Platoon

Derbyshire Courier 19 May 1917

NotesGeorge was born 19 May 1897 at Crich. He enlisted with his cousin William Frost (both underage). While serving with the Foresters he was reported as being wounded in France and his whereabouts became a mystery. Later it was reported that he had become a Prisoner of War. Earlier in the war, during 1915, his brother John Edward had also been wounded
After the war he went to work down the pit where sadly he had an accident and had to have both his legs amputated. His final days were on Jeffries Lane, Crich where he would sit in the window and watch the world go by.

Photo courtesy Elaine Maltby

William Frost and George Wragg aged seventeen, October 1914

1918 Roll of Electors for Crich
George Wragg, Sandy Lane, absent on military service

Newpaper Items

Derbyshire Times 19 May 1917 Mr and Mrs Edward Wragg, “The Tors”, Crich, late of Thurlow Booth Whatstandwell, would be grateful to receive further information as to the whereabouts and condition of their son, Pte George Wragg, No. 70545, Sherwood Foresters, “C” Co., 12th Platoon, B.E. France, who was reported as wounded on the 9th April last. They received a letter from his officer, but have heard nothing since.

Derbyshire Courier 26 June 1917 CRICH SHERWOOD A PRISONER OF WAR
Welcome news was received on Thursdayof last week by Mr and Mrs E. Wragg, of the Tors, Crich, That their son Private George Wragg from whom they had heard nothing since 7 April, was a prisoner of war in Germany. About the middle of April a letter was sent to Private Wragg's parents by his officer, stating that he was wounded on 9 April, since when he has been missing. They have now received the intimation from Park Street Derby, headquarters of the Sherwood Foresters Prisoners of War Regimental Care Committee that he is a prisoner. He is at present in hospital at Thuringen.

Derbyshire Courier 15 February 1919CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
With the arrival of Pte. George Wragg , of the Market place, the last of the Crich Prisoners of War has reached home. Pte. Wragg was taken prisoner eighteen months ago. He was severely wounded in left leg, and after lying on the battlefield from 11 in the morning until 7 in the evening he was captured by the Germans. After a month in Cambrai Hospital , then held by the Germans, he was sent to Langensalza, the dirty camp. Later, following a spell in hospital he was sent, although unfit, to work on a farm. A longing for liberty resulted in Pte. Wragg along with a Canadian companion making an ecort [sic] to escape. Getting away from the farm in the middle of the night they made tracking in the direction of Switzerland, having a map and compass to guide them.
For eleven days they kept their freedom, and were about 60 miles from the Swiss frontier when they were recaptured. Six months imprisonment was the result, annd both Pte. Wragg and his Canadian chum were sent to work on the Austrian front. Then came the armistice and "down tools" was at once adopted. From there they went back to Langensalza before they were permitted to come home.Pte. Wragg looks fairly well after his hard treatment

Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.